Flash Forward: A Defenders of the Earth Retrospective

Send Questions or Comments Join host Patrick Cadigan as he discusses episode nine of Defenders of the Earth, “The Revenge of Astra." Flash Gordon narrowly avoids crashing his spacecraft into an unseen object, leading the Defenders to discover that a mysterious ship has arrived at Ice Station Earth. From there, Princess Astra allies with Ming the Merciless, seeking revenge against Flash becaus...

Send Questions or Comments This is Flash Forward: A Defenders of the Earth Retrospective. Join me in one week's time as I cover episode 09: The Revenge of Astra! Until then… Support the show Visit the Flash Forward Companion site for more information from all over the web. Defenders of the Earth Facebook Group . Defenders of the Earth (Flash Gordon) Wiki . Defenders of the Earth Series Playli...

Send Questions or Comments Join host Patrick Cadigan as he discusses episode eight of Defenders of the Earth, “The Sleeper Awakes."  Ming learns of the ancient Annihilator, a powerful buried war machine, and devises a plan to awaken it and destroy the Defenders. While the Defenders are split up dealing with Ming’s schemes, Kshin is forced to confront his fear. Through courage and teamwork, ou...

Send Questions or Comments This is Flash Forward: A Defenders of the Earth Retrospective. Join me in one week's time as I cover episode 08: The Sleeper Awakes! Until then… Support the show Visit the Flash Forward Companion site for more information from all over the web. Defenders of the Earth Facebook Group . Defenders of the Earth (Flash Gordon) Wiki . Defenders of the Earth Series Playlist...

Send Questions or Comments Join host Patrick Cadigan as he discusses episode seven of Defenders of the Earth, “Cold War." Ming captures Flash Gordon and tricks Rick into launching a reckless solo rescue mission to steal his communicator ring and power a device capable of freezing the Earth. After Rick falls into Ming’s trap, the Defenders unite to rescue their friends, stop the weather machin...

Send Questions or Comments This is Flash Forward: A Defenders of the Earth Retrospective. Join me in one week's time as I cover episode 07: Cold War! Until then… Support the show Visit the Flash Forward Companion site for more information from all over the web. Defenders of the Earth Facebook Group . Defenders of the Earth (Flash Gordon) Wiki . Defenders of the Earth Series Playlist on YouTub...

Send Questions or Comments Join host Patrick Cadigan as he discusses episode six of Defenders of the Earth, "The Root of Evil," where a scientist’s breakthrough accidentally reveals a terrifying side effect. When Ming the Merciless learns of the formula, he kidnaps the scientist and sets into motion a plan to use the invention as a weapon against the Earth. As the Defenders of the Earth...

Send Questions or Comments This is Flash Forward: A Defenders of the Earth Retrospective. Join me in one week's time as I cover episode 06: The Root of Evil! Until then… Support the show Visit the Flash Forward Companion site for more information from all over the web. Defenders of the Earth Facebook Group . Defenders of the Earth (Flash Gordon) Wiki . Defenders of the Earth Series Playlist o...

Send Questions or Comments Join host Patrick Cadigan as he discusses episode five of Defenders of the Earth, "Bits and Chips," where Ming lures the team to a chess tournament in Paris to infect their computer ally Dynak X with a digital virus, gaining access to Earth's weapons data and turning Monitor's own defenses against the team. To save Dynak X, Rick shrinks himself, LJ, a...

Send Questions or Comments This is Flash Forward: A Defenders of the Earth Retrospective. Join me in one week's time as I cover episode 05: Bits and Chips! Until then… Support the show Visit the Flash Forward Companion site for more information from all over the web. Defenders of the Earth Facebook Group . Defenders of the Earth (Flash Gordon) Wiki . Defenders of the Earth Series Playlist on...

Send Questions or Comments Join host Patrick Cadigan as he discusses episode 4 of Defenders of the Earth "A House Divided." Written by Jeremy Griffin and Dave Weathers, the story introduces Kurt Walker, the Phantom's brother, who seeks to usurp the Phantom's mantle with Ming the Merciless's help. The Phantom faces off against his brother and ultimately wins through skill a...

Send Questions or Comments This is Flash Forward: A Defenders of the Earth Retrospective. Join me in one week's time as I cover episode 04: A House Divided! Until then… Support the show Visit the Flash Forward Companion site for more information from all over the web. Defenders of the Earth Facebook Group . Defenders of the Earth (Flash Gordon) Wiki . Defenders of the Earth Series Playlist on...

Send Questions or Comments Join host Patrick Cadigan as he discusses "A Demon in His Pocket," episode 3 of Defenders of the Earth. Written by Chuck Lorre (Two and a Half Men & The Big Bang Theory) this story finds Kshin summoning the demon Shogoth to deal with school bullies. Obvious havoc ensues, prompting Ming the Merciless to see a potential ally. The Defenders confront Shogoth an...

Send Questions or Comments This is Flash Forward: A Defenders of the Earth Retrospective. Join me in one week's time as I cover episode 03: A Demon in his Pocket! Until then… Support the show Visit the Flash Forward Companion site for more information from all over the web. Defenders of the Earth Facebook Group . Defenders of the Earth (Flash Gordon) Wiki . Defenders of the Earth Series Playl...

Send Questions or Comments Join host Patrick Cadigan as he discusses "The Creation of Monitor," episode 2 of Defenders of the Earth. Patrick covers characters like Flash Gordon, the Phantom, and Lothar, and the introduction Dynak X, a computer with the essence of Flash's dead wife. The episode highlights the quick pace of the storytelling, early 80's ideas involving AI and ecol...

Send Questions or Comments This is Flash Forward: A Defenders of the Earth Retrospective. Join me in one week's time as I cover episode 02: The Creation of Monitor! Until then… Support the show Visit the Flash Forward Companion site for more information from all over the web. Defenders of the Earth Facebook Group . Defenders of the Earth (Flash Gordon) Wiki . Defenders of the Earth Series Pla...

Send Questions or Comments Updated audio 6/08/2026! Join host Patrick Cadigan as he covers the pilot episode “Escape from Mongo,” providing a structured breakdown of the story, characters, and themes while offering context about the show’s origins and production. Patrick walks through the episode’s plot and analyzes broader themes such as the blending of science fiction and mysticism, the moderniz...

Send Questions or Comments Introducing Flash Forward: A Defenders of the Earth Retrospective. I'll review each episode of the series, breaking down the stories, characters, themes, and digging (just a bit) into the lore that gave this series its' moment in 80s animated television.  Join us in one week's time as I cover the pilot episode of Defenders of the Earth: Escape from Mongo....